Why the Seahawks should trade Richard Sherman

Why the Seahawks should trade Richard Sherman

All this talk about Richard Sherman makes it feel like Week 4 instead of the pre-draft portion of the offseason. Sherman’s name has been floating around trade talks recently. It’s not unheard of for Sherman to be flooding headlines in sports media. He’s often tagged as too emotional or as a locker room distraction.

On the surface, that’s easy to point at. But that emotion is passion. These guys play a physical game at an extremely high level. Sure, emotions can boil over on the sidelines, just as they did last season. But that emotion is what allows guys like Sherman to excel, and his teammates in Seattle will vouch for Sherman’s leadership.

But football is a business, and sometimes players that are a face of the franchise get traded. With that in mind, should the Hawks be considering trading Sherman?

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Why trade him away?

As good as Sherman is, he’s not Seattle’s defensive foundation — that’s Bobby Wagner. He’s not the most physical player in their secondary — that’s Kam Chancellor. He’s also not the most crucial part of the Legion of Boom — that’s Earl Thomas. The team didn’t convert a single interception last season after Thomas went down. Chancellor’s presence makes receivers think twice before going up for contested catches. Wagner led the league in tackles last year. And let’s not forget Cliff Avril, who had 12.5 sacks last season, and Frank Clark, who had 10.

This isn’t to say that Sherman isn’t good or even elite. The team benefits from his ability to disrupt an opponent’s top wide receiver. But the Hawks are simply loaded with defensive talent. Sherman is good enough to attract a hefty price from the right bidder.

Also, this is a business, and that front office has a team to run. Sherman could not only draw attractive trade offers, but dealing him would send away more than $22 million he’s owed over the next two seasons. While the Hawks’ salary cap isn’t in the worst shape, they’ll need to free up room if they want to keep their younger players on board. Dealing a player with a big cap number before a draft that’s very loaded on the defensive side of the ball might be the best long-term move.

Why trade for him?

Though he might not be as “shutdown” as he once was, Sherman’s combination of skill, size and intellect can limit an offense’s game plan. Pair that with championship presence, and Sherman could be a key player on several teams.

Outspoken or not, Sherman would bring leadership and a hunger to win to the locker room. This would make him an ideal fit for a team like the Jacksonville Jaguars. They have the money to spend on someone like Sherman and they’ve already improved the team by adding guys like Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye. The Jags have the skill on defense already. Match that with Sherman’s talent and intensity, you’re looking at what should be one of the best defenses in the league.

Sherman is 29, so any team that’s willing to trade for him is well aware of the approaching age wall. Sherman likely has more than just a few effective years left, but his current contract has him locked up for just two more seasons. After that are extension talks, which might get pricey. So, any team interested in acquiring Sherman is likely looking to complete a defense rather than build around him.

Look, this is all starting from team needs. Every team is better with Sherman on the roster. Seattle’s defense is better with Sherman. They know it, too, which is why the reported trade price is so high. But the Hawks are a team with needs. While they might take a hit on the defensive side, Seattle struggled mightily at times on offense, especially when Russell Wilson was banged up.

But Seattle also knows that quality defensive backs are in high demand. The New England Patriots know this, too; that’s why they’re likely shipping former Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler. It’s a different roster scenario, but Sherman and Butler are on the trade bubble for similar reasons.

Ultimately, the Seahawks have a blockbuster decision to make. As much as they can get for Sherman, keeping him with the team for another two years isn’t a bad move either. Whether he stays or goes, his legacy will always be felt in Seattle. Am I right, Crabtree?